Celebration of Life

April 22, 2014

Zambia you have lost a great man today. God rest the soul of Dennis Liwewe. He was an inspiration and one of the most colourful people and greatest story tellers you could meet – he was also a man of great principle and integrity. He was a source of inspiration to me and many of my former colleagues at the BBC, we will miss him greatly. I am just glad that I managed to visit him a year ago. I got word that as an Elder he would be in the Cathedral on Sunday morning in Lusaka and I paid him a surprise visit there and then later at his home. The word legend can be over used, but Dennis was one – his turn of expression always colourful, creative and a delight on the ear: Dennis your life and impact was great ” a mixed grill” as you loved to say to sum-up a football team’s chances. And the way you used your skills to inspire people away from football should never be forgotten either. My thoughts and prayers are with the Liwewe’s today.

- Martin Davis

We miss Dennis. I also remember in October 1993, when we played Morocco in Rabat. " I dont know what is going on in the mind of Zambians in Lusaka, Kitwe, Chipata, etc.....when they see this man ' Diramba' is shaking hands with the Moroccan players after scoring that goal. I cant believe this''. And Zambia would fail to make it to Atlanta 1994 where the World Cup would take place, and Brazil win.

He hinted that the Moroccan Adawi, seemed (we all saw Harrison Chongo creating the trap..) to be an off side position.....but scored via a hearder. Zambia to trail 1-0, and Diramba Jean Fidel, became the most hated referee in the history of Zambian football. Winston Gumboh would lead fans and push for a replay....but to no avail.

- Barn Chileshe M

Yes, Dennis Liwewe was to soccer what nshima is to a typical Zambian home. Without nshima, there's no 'food' in the home; without Liwewe, there was no soccer in Zambia. Those of us who grew up in the seventies, during the 'golden' generation of soccer players groomed by Ante Buselic, the soccer coach from Yugoslavia, and later by the soccer genius, Samuel Zoom Ndhlovu, would know what am talking about. Dennis Liwewe's entry at any soccer stadium was marked by pomp and fanfare, as we soccer fans 'knew' the soccer match would start anytime soon.

He would saunter on the pitch, often dressed in a 'KK' mandarin safari suit, to the loud cheers, whistling, beating of drums, dancing and singing of soccer songs such as ' teti tubwelele panuma ba Chitalu' (we can't go back, Mr Chitalu). At that point, the stadium would be filled with an electric atmosphere, and Dennis Liwewe would be in the centre of thousands of adoring soccer fans, all now waiting for the next thing, the teams line up, which would start thus: 'good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to Independence Stadium where Zambia lock horns with the Pharaohs of Egypt, in a World Cup qualifier. In goal, ladies and gentlemen (pause), from Mighty Mufulira Wanderers, none other than Efford Chabala! At that, the stadium would explode into a defeaning roar of cheers to celebrate the best goalie ever produced in Zambian soccer (some would say, Emmanuel Mwape, both my heroes).

Then Dennis Liwewe, would call out the names of each other player, again followed by ululations, till finally, a longer pause: wearing shirt No 11; today, all the way from PS Eindoven in Holland, 1988 Africa Footballer of the Year, (pause due to deafening cheers, ululations of Lusha! Lusha! Lusha!) is Kalusha Bwalya... The cheers, drum beats, cheers would reach a crescendo, followed the team, 'KK Eleven', would trot on to the pitch, with the opposition team having been dealt a mortal blow by Dennis Liwewe's antics of pychological warfare. MHSRIP.

- Freddie Mwape

Glowing tribute of Liwewe’s illustrious football broadcasting career are already under way.

Renowned commentator Mark Gleeson has mourned late legendary Zambian commentator Dennis Liwewe describing him as the best of the African commentators.

Gleeson a renowned global football commentator and expert tweeted in the wake of Liwewe’s death paying tribute to the defacto king of the commentary box in Southern Africa.

Peter Adamu | April 22, 2014

THANK YOU H.E MICHAEL CHILUFYA SATA FOR HONORING ONE OF AFRICA'S FINEST WITH NATIONAL MOURNING!

Friends gratitude must be extended to the President of the Sovereign Republic of Zambia, His Excellency Michael Chilufya Sata and his government for honoring departed father of football commentaries in this country Dennis Liwewe with three days of national mourning.

Secretary to the Cabinet Rowland Msiska confirmed that the national mourning will run for three days in which flags will fly at half mast from 06: 00 hours to 18: 00hours starting today Thursday 24th April, 2014 to Saturday, 26th April, 2014, and all activities of entertainment nature must be cancelled or postponed with radio and television stations playing solemn music.

Celebrated football commentator Liwewe, 77, died of a liver ailment at Lusaka's Levy Mwanawasa Hospital on Tuesday morning.

Legendary Liwewe was also an astute administrator who served on the FAZ Appeals Committee but was removed in May 2011.

In his dedication to duty, the ever lively Liwewe rose to Director of Media and Public Relations in the now defunct Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM) having started off as a reporter on the Nchanga Drum in Chingola with Anglo-American Corporation three years before Northern Rhodesia became free Zambia.

Widely recognised as ''The Voice of Zambian football'', Liwewe whenever his distinct musical voice did an inimitable opera on Zambian radio, the nation was always captivated by his live vibes.

Malawi remember him fondly as he was born there in 1936. Zimbabwe revere him for doing his school there.

Africa respects him because he had no equals on the continent. The rest of the earth simply admired him and wished he was theirs on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) platform.

The BBC honored him as their correspondent. First Repubican President Dr David Kaunda honoured him for his services to football.

Now President Sata has befittingly honoured Liwewe with national mourning. Thank your Excellency.

Canon Liwewe will be put to rest at the Leopards Hill Memorial Park tomorrow with Church Service at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross where he was a devout Christian congregant bestowed with the title of ''canon''-an honorary title given to a person who is not a priest but who does faithful work in support of the church.

May Jehovah God our Father receive His faithful servant!

We are comforted ''Akulu'' you have ''gone yonder to be in the bosom of Our Lord Jesus Christ'' knowing He was your saviour. I remember you famously saying, ''There is no better place than being in the presence of your God.''

Farewell Uncle Dennis, ''until we meet up there'' as you would say in your beautiful bass, baritone and tenor knit in one voice.

For you it has been ''an incredible'', ''inspirational'' and ''brilliantly executed'' journey. ''You were colossus-second to none in football, one of the finest this country has ever produced in all spheres.''

Go well! As you said on the passing of the boys you idolised in the 1993 Gabon disaster: ''Will definitely meet there, only you have gone first. You have gone as the Zambian Voice, a gallant, respected and loved voice. Your legend will be immortalized in our memories! Go well grand commander of football commentaries! Bye, Bye!''

God bless Ponga Liwewe, the family and the football fraternity.

Tribute by Chibulu Ba Muzo Musonda

Rest In Peace Mr Liwewe. I will always treasure the moments I met you in South Africa when we lost to SA for a World Cup qualifier in 1997 and I still have the autograph you kindly signed off for me. You will be greatly missed by all – Our condolences to the Liwewe family.

Another one of our legends has been taken away from us. Looking back at his time in the commentary box, there is no doubt that he deserves a special place in the annals of our soccer history. The father of Zambian football is no more!

One of the greatest assets Zambia had ever produced. He is a legendary not only in Zambia but Africa and the World. He is a former BBC commentator! What a loss!